Financial Times and Slate.com columnist Harford (The Undercover Economist)
provides an entertaining and provocative look at the logic behind the seemingly
irrational. Arguing that rational behavior is more widespread than most people
expect, Harford uses economic principles to draw forth the rational elements of
gambling, the teenage oral sex craze, crime and other supposedly illogical
behaviors to illustrate his larger point. Utilizing John von Neumann and Thomas
Schelling's conceptions of game theory, Harford applies their approach to
a multitude of arenas, including marriage, the workplace and racism. Contrarily,
he also shows that individual rational behavior doesn't always lead to socially
desired outcomes. Harford concludes with how to apply this thinking on an even
bigger scale, showing how rational behavior shapes cities, politics and
the entire history of human civilization. Well-written with highly engaging
stories and examples, this book will be of great interest to Freakonomics and
Blink fans as well as anyone interested in the psychology of human behavior.

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